moonslav59

They didn't suck in 2021, not did Iggy and Shaw- 2 more low budget anti-sucktitude players.

They did look pretty lackluster during that 7 game win streak.

Let's hope we fair better vs the American Central Division than the National Central Division.

Want some encouraging numbers? Team Pitching Rankings since May 16: fWAR 5.3 MIA 4.9 BOS & SDP T2nd 4.8 SFG ERA 3.06 SFG 3.19 CWS 3.37 HOU (with 3 starters out all year) 3.48 SDP 3.50 BOS 3rd in ERA- at 79 4th in FIP at 3.69 7th in xFIP- at 95 10th K-BB% at 15.6% (2.98 K/BB) Starters: T4th fWAR at 3.0 5th ERA at 3.58 5th in ERA- at 81 (1 behind TR and 2 behind 1st tie CWS, HOU, TEX) T3rd xFIP- at 88 Now, some of those numbers included Sale and Houck, but we got back Whitlock and others. Anyone know when Schreiber returns?

I felt we had depth to start the season. I even spoke of too much quantity and not enough quality. Some of the depth I saw was an illusion, and I'm still not sure Murphy is not an hallucination. Starters: Sale (60 day IL) Paxton (started on IL) Kluber (demoted to pen) Pivetta (demoted to pen but may return) Whitlock (was on IL but has returned) Houck (was on IL, returned and now is back on it) Bello (started season on IL) We knew Paxton was starting on the IL, and Sale was one violent sneeze away from it, but we started with 7 pretty good or pretty promising SP'ers, and here was the depth beyond those 7: 8. Crawford (was on IL earlier) 9. Winckowski (has not been used as a SP'er) (Minors) 10. Mata (was our 6th rated prospect and was considered close to ML ready) 11. Walter (was our 8th rated prospect and was considered close to ML ready) 12. Murphy (was our 13th rated prospect and was considered close to ML ready) (Drohan and Wikelman were considered too far away) Of course we knew many would be or get hurt, but what GM plans on his top 8 SP'ers spending time on the IL in the first 72 games of the year? Then, all 3 minor league guys sucked, big time, to start the season. It is very strange how over 90% of our ILs are pitchers or SSs. Pen: Martin, Screiber, Kelly, Mills and probably some I forgot. SS: Story, Mondesi, Chang

Agreed, and several other teams seem to be making some smart choices, too. Most by building their farm.

It looks like Bello is rounding into a solid SP'er. Nothing is for sure, but he's grown more quickly than I ever expected. Anything can happen, but I feel safe counting on him as our #2 in 2024 and beyond. I hate to count on Sale as our #1 in 2024, so I hope we find some way to add a solid 1/2 type, but I've come to try and not get my hopes up. Assuming no additions... 2024: 1. Sale 2. Bello 3. Whitlock 4. Houck 5. Pivetta/Crawford (Wink from pen?) (Drohan, Mata, Walter, Murphy) 2025 1. Bello 2. Whitlock 3. Houck 4. Crawford 5. Drohan, Mata, Walter, Murphy (Wink) 2026 Same as 2025 with Perales, E R-C and Wikelman maybe in the mix

There are so many examples of teams like the Phillies. BTW, last year the Sox were 6 games into a 7 game win streak and were sitting at 41-31 at the 72 game mark. We then went 9-21 up to the trade deadline. It can go both ways.

Yes. they did, and they have.

The race has already begun.

Only 2 teams are more 11 games behind the last WC slot (KCR & OAK.) Amazingly, only 7 teams are more than 5.5 GB a slot! (Add STL, COL, WSH, DET & CWS) 23 out of 30 teams think they have a real shot at the playoffs. Okay, maybe the Mets don't. Biggest surprises? 41-31 MIA (6th best record in MLB) 44-27 BAL (3rd best) 43-29 AZ (5th best) 41-33 LAA (7th) 39-32 SFG (8th) All better than... 39-33 HOU 39-33 LAD 39-33 NYY 39-34 TOR 38-34 PHI 37-34 MIL BOS & CIN are tied for the 15th best record- both surprises to many people. Biggest bust: 33-38 NYM 29-43 STL

Maybe someday, this thread will be viewed as a big joke.

Sell, Sell, SELL!!!

After 72 games, the Yankees are just 2 games ahead of the team one Yankee fan called names I don't even want to repeat. Yes, the Yanks have had a ton of injuries, but in some ways many were expected or pretty likely. The Sox have had our top 3 SSs out and 83 key RP'ers out, too: Schreiber, Martin and Crawford. Our #1 is on the 60. Paxton missed a bunch of time. Whitlock missed time. Houck is out for the second time. Those were our best 4 SP'ers going into the season.

What a big win! We need to keep the pedal to the metal. We have tended to have let downs after big moments like this. No Sale, Houck, Schreiber, not to mention Story. 37-35 is probably better than most expected in March of even 5 days ago.

Indeed. That was one of the most heartbreaking events in Red Sox history.

Funny. 3-13 Mets in last 16. How about Cincy? Win 5. Lose 4. Win 3. Lose 2. Win 8, including sweep of HOU. MIA 15-5 in last 20. AZ 14-6

Looks like the Rays and Rangers will make the playoffs, unless Hou (5.5 GB) passes them. MIN or CLE should win the Central, and I seriously doubt a WC team comes from there. That leaves the WC race looking like this, after tonight: BAL: +5.5 LAA: +1.0 HOU & NYY tied for the last slot at 39-33 -0.5 TOR -2.0 BOS -3.0 SEA -5.5 CLE Sure looks a lot better than we did after losing the first 2 to COL. It just goes to show you how quickly things can turn around, no matter what the schedule looks like- no matter who is pitching. We have exactly 90 games to go- 9 games from the halfway mark. GO SOX! Go!

Woo won 11-5 after scoring 8 runs in the 7th and later. Koss went 3-4 and was a homer short of a cycle. Goodrum 3-4 RHern 2-5 (OPS now up to .818) GRE won 6-5 after scoring 2 in the bottom of the 9th. Jordan homered (10th) and walked twice Anthony 1-4 w BB SAL won 10-4 after being down 4-2. Lira homered (2-4) AHernandez went 3-3 w BB Castro, Ravelo, JH Garcia and James also had 2 hits POR is tied 2-2 in the 8th. 2-3 Rafaela Kavadas 1-3 w 12th HR Yorke 1-3 w 2B Hickey 1-3 Mayer 0-2 w BB

He makes contact. He walks a lot. He has plus-plus speed. His defense is okay but may improve to plus. He's 23, so he's not really beating up older pitchers, but I think there is some home he can make it.

To me, it's more surprising Refsnyder is playing over Yoshida. He was really sucked vs righties, this year, after being decent, last year. He has killed lefties and has been more platooned this year than last. Fun fact: 226 batters with 140+ PAs v LHPs 2022-2023... TOP MLB OPS 1.114 Goldschmidt 1.028 Robert 1.006 Riley 1.005 Betts 1.001 Refsnyder 22. JD .919 33. Bogey .881 59. Turner .827 104. Devers .763

So, everything you said about how good the Yanks looked before the season bagan was what?

TOR and HOU lost. BAL and LAA won. For what it’s worth, the Rays are losing in the 5th.

Big win! Taking the second game could be the big spark we have needed for over a month!

It can often help, but yes.